Page 7 of Warwick

“The created warlock?”

“Yes. Who exactly do you think is running the council?” I asked.

“I don’t know. Elected paranormals?”

I chuckled again. “No, Dominic. The council is run by the created ones. There are also enforcers”—I pointed to myself—“as well as others that are involved. Each created one has an ambassador, as well as a few more on their committee. Then there’s everyone else that works for the council. We have a paranormal version of a human-running government, all centered at the council’s headquarters.”

“Where’s that? We’ve all heard there’s a council but not where it is.”

I shook my head. Dominic was giving information, sure, but I didn’t completely trust him. “That’s need-to-know and a well-kept secret. I’m sorry.”

Dominic shrugged. “Not an issue. Does it really exist though?”

I nodded at that and looked toward the door when there was a knock. I already knew it would be Master Edison but wasn’t sure who else beyond that. When I opened the door, I smirked. He’d brought the big guns. I stepped to the side and let them enter the hotel room. When Atticus came in last, he grabbed my shoulder and gave it a squeeze. “You were supposed to be on vacation,” he whispered. I shrugged. “Only you would fall into something like this when you’re supposed to be relaxing.”

We followed the others into the room. “I’d like to think that any enforcer would pick up on the same issues. Not just me.”

“True.”

“You must be the informant,” Master Edison was saying as Atticus and I joined them. I was almost as tall as Alpha Sergei, and it was a bit comical to watch Dominic’s face as he took in those around him as he stood up from where he’d been sitting on the love seat.

“This is Dominic,” I said. “He was kind enough to warn me about his coven master. Some other things have come about since then,” I told everyone. Dominic stared at me with his mouth open and wide eyes. Atticus and I chuckled. “Dominic, this is my pack alpha, Atticus,” I added.

Atticus, being the friendly sort he was, held out his hand. “Nice to meet you. I hear we might have a dirty coven to look into,” he said.

“Umm…yes. I can give you names of the top of the inner circle, but beyond that, I can’t give you too many names. I don’t know the majority of our coven as it’s fairly large.”

Atticus and I both turned to Master Edison. He was staring at Dominic, but after a moment, he turned toward me and Atticus. “There’s no record of a coven here in Venice. That in itself is an issue. A very concerning one.”

“I checked out any and all of my vampire covens here in Italy. There are six that are sizeable—over a hundred each. There are four more that are under fifty members,” Master Ambrosius said. He looked directly at Dominic. “I am quite surprised that there is a warlock coven here in Venice and I do not know of its existence.”

Dominic glanced my way and subtly pointed. I chuckled. “That’s Master Ambrosius. He’s the created vampire.”

“Who?” Dominic glanced around the room.

“The big guy there is Alpha Sergei. He’s a dragon. The first dragon,” Atticus added. “And the one who is just slightly smaller is Chief Daegal. He’s the created gargoyle.”

Dominic shook his head and took a step back. “No. I need…I should go.” He looked around, seemed to get frustrated and then terrified. He peered at me with wide eyes.

“You don’t expect me to allow you to leave, do you?” Master Edison asked.

“What did you do?”

Master Edison raised an eyebrow, and it didn’t take long for Dominic to figure out he’d messed up. When Alpha Sergei grabbed the back of Dominic’s neck, the warlock looked as if he were about to pee his pants.

“We just wish to talk to you,” Alpha Sergei said. “But you will show all of us the respect we’re due. Especially Master Edison. He is, in fact, your master as well, even if you aren’t in his coven.”

Atticus and I watched as Dominic was led back to the small sitting area. Dominic sat with Master Ambrosius sitting right beside him. Several additional chairs suddenly appeared, and the others sat.

“What’s your take on Dominic?” Atticus whispered.

“I think he’s one of the good ones, honestly.” I looked over at the warlock and wondered what his future would be after all of this. “I popped in, unseen, yet he was walking by and sensed me. Without a thought, he warned me against his master.”

Atticus nodded. “What of him?”

I shrugged. “Sounds like your typical cliché bad guy. Drugs, stolen goods, most likely into trafficking as well.”

Atticus growled low in his chest, drawing Alpha Sergei’s attention. He tilted his head to the side in question, but Atticus shook his. “How bad do you think it is?”

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